Signaling device.



.1. L. GLEASON SIGNALING DEVICE.

I APPLICATION FILED nov. 22. 19-15.

Patented Jan. 1, 1918..

have/77,607

.. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. GLEASON, OF JAMAICA PLAIN, MASSACHUSETTS.

I use atriight on motor vehicles to indicate to operators of following vehicles in which (11- SIGNALING DEVICE.

Application filed November 22, 1915. Serial No. 82,839.

. Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signaling devices and is designed more particularly for rection a tu .is to be made and to supplement the usua method of projecting an arm to one side or the other of the vehicle to indicate the direction-in which the vehicle is to be turned.

The object of the invention is to provide va set of indicators arran ed at the rear of thereof may expose one or the other of said indicators to indicate a left or right turn of said vehicle.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation. of a signaling device embodying my invention, the same being viewed from the rear of the vehicle to which said device is attached, the portion only of said vehicleto which said device is attached being shown in the drawings.

Fig. 2 is a part side elevation and part section of the device illustrated in Fig. 1 with the same attached to a vehicle, which is shown only in part.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Like numer ls refer to like arts throughout the several views of the rawings.

In the drawings, 5 is the body of a vehicle and .6 a casing within which is arranged suitable illuminating instrumentalities, in-

dicated in the present, case by a bulbg'f,

although if desired, any; other type of lamp may be employed.

"It is compulsory that all motor vehicles carry a rear lamp which shall shine through a red light of glass. Furthermore the number plate-of the vehicle at the rear thereof must also be illuminated at night audit is the usual custom to provide, a single lamp Specification of Letters Patent.

.Patented J an. 1, 1918.

which serves for both purposes. It is the purpose of this invention to utilize the aforesaid illuminating instrumentalities in ac- 60 complishing the desired result.

The casing (i is therefore provided with a light of glass 8, preferably centrally dis posed relatively to said'casin'g and composed of red glass or other transparent material 65 with the bulb 7 arranged substantially in alinement therewith. A pair of lights 9 and 10, preferably somewhat smaller than the light 8 and disposed at op osite sides of said light 8, serve to permit tii from the illuminating instrumentalities within the casing 5 to issue or be projected from said casing.

The lights 9 and 10'are preferably formed of glass or other suitable transparent material' and of a different color from the light 8, preferably blue. The rays of light from the illuminating instrumentalities. within the casing Gare normally prevented,

from shining through the lights 9 and 10,

but when it is desired to turn either to the left or to the right, the light corresponding to said turn is illuminated or made visible, 7

while the opposite side remains dark.

For this purpose shutters 11 have been provided to slide across the openings for the lights 9 and 10, said shutters being referably arranged to slide in guides 12 ormed upon the interior of the wall of the'casing I containing the openings for said lights. The 90, shutters 11 are pre erably operatively connected by means extending to the forward end of the vehicle and arranged adjacent the operators seat, whereby said operator may,

either by hand or foot, manipulate said shuttersto expose one or the other of said li hts.

'As a convenient means for accomplis ing.

this result I have provided a lever 13 secure to a shaft 14 extendin from the front to-the rear of the vehicle an jonrnaled in bearings 1,00 7

15 and 16. The lever 13 projectslupward from the shaft 14 through the floor 17 and in a convenient position for the operator to I manipulate the same.

At the rear end of the shaft-.14 is a rocker ends 0 said rocker arm 18 alink 19 is at? tached preferably by means-of a screw 20,

said screws having slid: ble engagement withsaid links in slots 21. The upper ends of the links 19 are secured to the shutters 11 projecting thereto throu h slots or openings 2 in the lower wallof t 1e casing 55.

e rays of light 70 sitions of the' s utters 11 are at the upper' I portions of the casing and across the openings for the'lights 9 and 10, inwhich positions said shutters are maintained, preferably by means of U-shaped springs 23.

The lower arm .24 of the spring 23 encircles the screw20, while the upper arm 25',

thereof is offset at 26 and pro ects through the slot 21- engaging the link 19 at the upper end of said slot, thereby yieldingly retaining the screw 20 at the lower end of said slot and at the-same time maintaining the shutters at their uppermost positions, as one of said springs counteracts the action of the oppos1te spring. The end of the arm 25 is farthermore extended 'at 27 and engages the lower wall of the casing 6 for the purpose of insuring the rocker arm 18 remaining in its horizontal position, asillustrated in Fig. 1. For convenience, the casing 6 issecured to a bracket 28 carrying the journal 16 for the shaf 14;"while said bracket is in turn secured to the frame 5 of the motor vehicle. Another opening,prefe rably at the end 29 of the casingfi, is provided within ivhi'ch a transparent sheet of material 30 is provided for ermitting rays of light from the bulb 7 to s ine upon a number plate 31," which is preferably arranged adjacent the end of said casing.

-To operate the device, the operator of the vehicle rocks the lever 13'either to the right or to the left according to the direction in which he is to turn, which movement rocks the rocker arm 18. Should said lever 13 be rocked toward the left, the arm 18 would 7 arm 18 is depressed, as just referred .to, the right hand end is moved .upwardl permitting'the screw 201:0 slide upwar 1y in the slot 21 Without,v moving the shutter for the lightJ-O, although the spring 23 will be com:-

pressed. Uponthe'releasing of the lever 13- said spring 23 immediately'expandd to .return the rocker arm 18 to its normal position, thus closin' the opening for the light 9.

While I have erein shown and described one specificembodiment of my'i'nvention for illustrative purposes, and have disclosed and discussed in detail the construction-d ar rangement incidental to one specific application thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the more do of said lights adapted to normally obscure said illuminating rays, a rocker arm, a plurality of links, one pivotally attached to each of said shutters and slidably engaging one of the ends of said rockor'arm, an operating lever adapted'to be moved to rock said rocker arm to withdraw one or the other of said shutters, and. a plurality of springs, one interposed between each end of I said rocker arm and. the link attached thereto.

2. A signaling device for vehicles having, in combination, a plurality of'ishutters, a 902 plurality of links, one pivotally attached to each of said shutters, said li'nks each having a slot extendin longitudinally thereof, an actuating-mam er, pins on said actuating member adapted to enter thexslots in said links, and s rings'ada'pted to yieldingly f. maintain-sai pins at one end of said slots, whereby when said actuating member is operated in either direction one of said shut ters will be positively moved to disclose said 160 illuminating rays, the other shutter remain .ing closed.

3. A signaling device for vehicles having, in combinationfaplurality ofshutters, a

plurality of links, one pivotally attached to ltji each of said shutters, said links each having a slot e'xtendin longitudinally thereof, an actuating 'mem r, pins on said actuating member adapted to enter the slots in said links, and a-plurality of V shaped springs. i

one interposed between each of the pins on said actuating member and the opposite end of the slot, within which said pin is arranged, whereby when saidfactuating members operate said slide will be positively moved in onedirectiOn and yieldingly moved in' the opposite direction for a portion of the movement of said actuating member.

In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand in presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

' JOHN L. GLEASON.

Witnesses:

CHARLES S. Goonmo, Srmvnr E. Tam. 

